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06 June 2014

Things I'm Loving: welcoming the dawn at Seatoun Pier with long exposure photography

It was a big effort getting out of bed at 6am on a crisp 3 degree morning on a chance and possibility. The chance to practice my night photography with long exposure shots in a Wellington location that I hoped would do my efforts justice.

It was a whim I was willing to indulge. So in spite of the stinking head cold I'd been fighting all week, I donned 47 layers of clothing, puffer jacket, warm hat and mittens and hit the road at 6.10am.

I'd seen the long range forecast and knew that the forecast for all three days of the long weekend was for fine, frosty weather and no wind. That's unheard of in these parts.

To start with it was just me and the pier. Until I had to share it with some fishermen who were very dedicated to the cause (or crazy like me) being out this early in the freezing cold.

The curve of the bay made for wonderful reflections of street lights in water.

Call me slow to the party but this is really the first time I'd tried out long exposures with this light (or lack of). I think somewhere along the way I'd convinced myself that either my equipment wasn't up to scratch (not true) or I didn't have it in me. Either way I hoped I was wrong.

Setting up a long exposure shot isn't just about pointing and shooting so it does take a little more effort. And shooting in manual mode is something I'm only just now getting the hang of which makes me a bit of a slow learner I know since I've actually had a DSLR for 3 years now (ahem!). Better late than never I suppose.

As well as setting up all the long exposure shots, I had to quickly tweak some dials to catch the first ferry of the day chug her way out of the harbour leaving a trail of smoke billowing behind her as she went.

The pier proved itself more than worthy a photo subject during the time I was there.

After an hour with stiff and frozen finger tips that no amount of blowing or rubbing would fix, I was more than ready to call it a day.

But just at that moment the sun rose.

And I couldn't bring myself to leave.

Not yet anyway.

My fingers would just have to hold on for a while longer.

They managed to tweak a few dials and set up a few more shots which I think were worth the extra wait.

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something you can be thankful for..no matter how simple it is.

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